Dispensing valve



Aug. 21, 1962 s. e. BUDWIG DISPENSING VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.31, 1959 Attorneys 5 Aug. 21 1962 s. G. BUDWIG DISPENSING VALVE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31. 1959 Fig. 7

mmvron Gilbert 6 IBudwsg BY United States Patent 3,050,281 DISPENSINGVALVE Gilbert G. Budwig, 3400 Bayside Walk, Mission Beach, Calif.

Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,215 8 Claims. (Cl. 251-342) Thisinvention relates to dispensing valves; that is, to valves adapted foruse on pressurized containers for controlling the discharge of theircontents. Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a dispensing valve which is particularly economical ofmanufacture, thereby permitting its use in conjunction with expendablepressurized containers.

Second, to provide a dispensing valve wherein the valve body isessentially a tubular member molded of a yieldable plastic material orsemi-elastomer, such as polyethylene, and having an inlet at one end, anoutlet at its other end, and a valve seat intermediate its ends, thevalve body being so shaped adjacent the valve seat as to be locallydistortable when the outlet end is deflected, to cause distortion of thevalve seat thereby to permit flow past a cooperating valve element.

Third, to provide a dispensing valve which in one embodiment a plasticelement is cast as an insert when the valve body is molded.

Fourth, to provide a dispensing valve which in another embodimentutilizes a special plastic valve element having integral spring means topreload its engagement with the valve seat.

Fifth, to provide a dispensing valve which in another embodiment a rigidvalve element and seat washer are assembled into the molded valve body.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view of a container showing the dispensingvalve mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken through 22 of FIGURE 1,showing the dispensing valve but omitting the container;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 33 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged, substantially diagrammatical view takenthrough 4--4 of FIGURE 3, showing the valve element and adjacentportions of the core members employed in molding the valve body aroundthe valve element, and illustrating the manner in which the valve isheld in a compressed condition while being molded;

FIGURE 5 is also a further enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view takenin the same plane as FIGURE 4, and showing the valve element andadjacent portions of the valve body when the valve is in its closedcondition;

FIGURE 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the manner inwhich the valve seat within the valve body distorts to efiect opening ofthe valve;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, showing amodification of the valve body;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view also similar to FIGURE 2,showing a further modified form of the valve body and valve element;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through 9-9 of FIGURE10, showing a further modified form of the valve body and valve element;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken through 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary, bottom end view of the valve constructionshown in FIGURE 9.

Reference is first directed to FIGURES 1 through 6. I he dispensingvalve herein illustrated includes a valve "ice body 1 formed of plasticmaterial having elastomer characteristics. Polyethylene has been foundsuitable; however, other yieldable material may be used.

The valve body 1 is essentially tubular and includes an inlet portion 2and a normally coaxial outlet portion 3. These portions are separated byan external annular groove 4 and are joined internally by a constrictedport 5. At the underside of the port 5 there is formed a semisphericalvalve seat 6. As will be brought out hereinafter, the valve seat 6 isformed by casting a cooperating valve element in the valve body 1 as aninsert.

Within the inlet portion 2 there is formed internal ribs 7 which definetherebetween axially directed flow channels 8. In the constructionshown, four such internal ribs are provided in the flow channels 8defining a passage of shape cross section.

A valve element 9, which may be in the form of a ball, or have othercross section if desired, is molded within the valve body 1 as aninsert. The upper portion of the valve element 9 shapes the valve seat8, whereas the under portion of the valve element determines the shapeof the upper ends of the internal ribs 7. As indicated in FIGURE 4, thevalve element 9 may be initially held between core members 10 and 11employed to form the cavities of the valve body 1.

It is preferable to apply a compression load on the valve element 9along the axis between the core members 10 and 11, as indicated by acomparison of the solid and dotted lines in FIGURE 4. The effect is tobulge or increase the dimension of the valve element 9 in the regionsnot engaged by the core members 10 and 11. The ball is cast as an insertwhile so held, with the result that after molding the valve body 1, thevalve element 9 is held in a preloaded condition against the valve seat6, particularly at the juncture of the valve seat with the port 5, asindicated best in FIGURE 5.

The inlet portion 2 is provided with a suitable mounting flange 12 orother means so arranged that the valve body 1 may be sealed in the mouthof a container 13.

The outlet portion 3 may simply extend as an open tube from the port 5such as shown in FIGURE 9, to be described hereinafter, or mayincorporate a nozzle member 14, as shown particularly in FIGURES l and2.

The nozzle 14 includes a stem 15 having a bore 16 communicating with theport 5. The outer end of the bore 16 is closed, but adjacent this endthe bore is provided with a laterally directed nozzle port 17. A handle18 extends from the opposite side of the nozzle member 14. The stem 15of the nozzle member may be so dimensioned as to be forced into theoutlet portion 3 or may be cemented therein, as desired,

Operation of the dispensing valve shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 is asfollows:

Normally, the valve is in its closed condition, such as shown in FIGURES2 and 5. If the outlet portion 3 is tilted or displaced angularly withrespect to the inlet portion 2, there occurs a local distortion of thevalve body 1 in the region of the port 5 and valve seat 6, as shown inFIGURE 6. This distortion produces a distortion of the valve seat 6 soas to lift one side thereof from the valve element 9 and thereby openthe dispensing valve.

It will be observed that the outlet portion 3 may be tilted angularly inany direction with respect to the inlet portion 2. However, by reason ofthe location of the handle 18 the outlet portion 3 is normally tilted inonly one direction. Upon release of the handle 18, the outlet portion 3returns to its normally coaxial relation with the inlet portion 2causing the dispensing valve to close.

In this construction it is preferred to use a valve element which ismore pronounced as an elastomer than the valve body. It is alsopreferred to utilize a spherical valve element, partially for the reasonthat this shape may be more conveniently inserted between the cores ofthe mold. However, other shapes may be cast as an insert within thevalve body.

It is essential, of course, that the materials utilized in the valvebody and in the valve element be such that they do not bond together inthe course of molding the valve body. Also the valve element should becapable of withstanding the molding temperatures of the materialutilized in the valve body. It is readily apparent that there is a widerange of elastomers or elastomer-like plastics, resins, or rubbers whichare comparable.

In the construction shown till FIGURES 1 through 6, the fiow channels 8are shown as terminating at approximately a plane through the center ofthe valve element 9. However, by reason of the fact that the valveelement is formed of yieldable material, the flow channels may extendabove this plane, as indicated by 8a in FIGURE 7, thus reducing theeffective area of the valve seat.

While it is preferable to form the valve element 9 of an elastomer, itis possible to utilize a rigid valve element, as, for example, a metalball. This is particularly true if the material comprising the body 1 issuch that it undergoes shrinkage after molding so as to apply a preloadforce on the metal valve element. This is also true if the valve elementis formed of a relatively hard resin.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 8. It is pre ferred, if a rigidresin or metal valve element is used such as the valve element 19 shownin. FIGURE 8, that the valve element be inserted after molding the valvebody. In this construction, the valve body is essentially the same asthe first described valve body except that in place of the internal ribs7 there are provided internal retainer bosses 20 of sufficient dimensionas to engage the valve element 19 but sufliciently small as to permitthe valve element to be forced past the valve bosses.

In this construction, the valve element 19 may engage the valve seat ormay engage a separate seat Washer 21. The distance between the retainerbosses 20 and the valve seat before insertion of the valve element isless than the coresponding dimension of the valve element so that onassembly the intervening portion of the valve body is placed undertension and a preload force is applied to the valve element to hold itagainst the valve seat.

Operation of the dispensing valve shown in FIGURE 8 is essentially thesame as in the first described structure. That is, when the outletportion 3 is tilted or inclined relative to the inlet portion 2, theport 5 and the shoulder underlying the valve seat Washer 211 aredistorted in the manner shown in FIGURE 6 so that the washer 21 mayyield correspondingly and form a flow passage with the valve element 19.

Reference is now directed to FIGURES 9, l0, and 11. The constructionhere illustrated includes a tubular valve body 22 having a relativelyshort inlet portion 23, the bore of which is polygonal in cross section,and a relatively long coaxial outlet 24. As in the first describedstructure, there is provided an annular groove '25 between the inlet andoutlet portions 23 and 24', and these portions are connected internallyby a constricted port 26. The upper end of the inlet portion 23' forms avalve seat 27 surrounding the port 26. In this construction, anessentially mushroom-shaped valve element 28 is provided. The valveelement is molded of a plastic material which may be similar to thatemployed to form the valve body 22.

The valve element 28 includes a valve disk 29 at its upper end whichengages the valve seat 27. Extending downwardly from the valve disk 29is a stem 30, the lower end of which terminates in a flared foot 31. Theflared foot 31 is yieldable so that the valve element 28 may becompressed axially. The lower or foot end of the valve element 28 isheld in place by internal bosses 32 provided in the lower end of theinlet portion 23. These bosses may be molded in place or may be formedby staking operation after the valve element has been inserted. Ineither case, the distance before assembly between the bosses 32 and thevalve seat 27 is less than the axial length of the valve element 28 sothat a preload force is applied through the valve element against thevalve seat 27.

In the construction shown in FIGURE 9, the outlet portion 24 is open atits outer end and, if desired, may be serrated.

The dispensing valve illustrated in FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 operates inessentially the same manner as the first described dispensing valve.That is, the outlet portion 24 is tilted or inclined relative to theinlet portion 23, causing one side of the valve seat 27 to lift from thevalve element 28 and thus open the valve. It will be observed that theoutlet portion 24 may be tilted in any direction to eifect opening ofthe dispensing valve.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details ofthe constructions set forth, and it embraces such changes,modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation andarrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve, comprising: a valve body formed of yieldablematerial and including a normally coaxially related tubular inlet end,outlet end, and constricted valve bore therebetween having a valve seatfacing said inlet end, and an external mounting flange between saidinlet end and said constricted bore, said valve body having a portion ofreduced external diameter in the region of said valve bore, theresilience of said valve body, the axial length and diameter of saidconstricted valve bore, the wall thickness within and axial length ofsaid portion of reduced external diameter being such that on flexing ofsaid outlet end with respect to said inlet end, said valve bore and seatare caused to distort locally; and a valve element closing said valveseat when said valve seat is undistorted, and forming therewith a flowpassage when said valve seat is distorted.

2. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said valveelement is formed of plastic material and includes a yieldable foot, andthe inlet end of said valve body includes means engaging said yieldablefoot to hold said valve element in yieldable engagement with said valveseat.

3. A dispensing valve, comprising: a tubular valve body formed ofyieldable material, said valve body including an inlet portion, anoutlet portion, a constricted neck joining said portions, a valve portthrough said neck, and a valve seat at the inlet end of said valve port,said neck portion having an external annular groove, the resiliency ofsaid valve body, the axial length and diameter of said valve port, theWall thickness and axial length of said neck in the region of saidgroove being so related as to cause local distortion of said neck andvalve seat on relative angular deflection of said ends; and a valveelement closing said valve seat when said valve seat is undistorted, andforming therewith a flow passage when said valve seat is distorted.

4. A dispensing valve, comprising: a tubular valve body formed ofyieldable material, said valve body including internally an inlet bore,a normally coaxial outlet bore, a constricted port between said bores,and a valve seat at the end of said port facing 'said inlet bore, saidport having an axial length approximately equal to its diameter, saidvalve body having externally an annular groove in the region of saidport, the area of the circle defined by the radially inner wall of thegroove having an area smaller than at least one of said bores; a valveelement engageable with said valve seat; the resiliency of the materialcomprising said body, the thickness of the wall of the body within saidcircle, and the axial dimension of said groove being such as to permitdeflection of said body member to place said bores in angular relation,

thereby to compress axially one side of said groove and port and stretchaxially the diametrically opposite side thereof, whereby said valve seatis distorted to permit flow past said valve element.

5. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said valveelement is a ball member, said valve seat contacts a major portion ofone side of said ball member, and ribs extend from the walls of saidinlet bore for permanent engagement with the side of said ball memberdiametrically opposite from said valve seat.

6. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said valveelement is a ball member, said valve seat occupies a narrow annular ringaround said port, and yieldable and displaceable lugs extending from thewalls of said inlet bore tend to hold said ball member against saidvalve seat.

7. A dispensing valve asset forth in claim 4, wherein: said valve seatprojects axially into said inlet bore, said valve element includes aseat-engaging head and an axially compressible stem, and lugs extendingfrom the Walls of said inlet bore engage said stem to hold said headagainst said valve seat.

8. A dispensing valve 13.5 set forth in claim 4, wherein: a relativelyrigid tubular reinforcing member fits said outlet bore to concentratebending of said body member in the region of said groove and port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,418,592 McGee June 6, 1922 1,788,795 Hoban Jan. 13, 1931 1,935,942Connor Nov. 21, 1933 2,290,249 Piperoux July 21, 1942 2,387,013 FullerOct. 16, 1945 2,869,764 Collins Jan. 20, 1959 2,892,574 Noe June 30,1959 2,946,555 Cantor July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,044,726 GermanyNov. 20, 1958 553,535 Italy Dec. 28. 1956

